News - AKIA

Dr. Charlie Surh passed away on Oct. 6, 2017

One of the founders of our association and a good friend of ours, Dr. Charles D. Surh, passed away on October 6, 2017 after valiant battle with cancer. Charlie obtained his bachelor’s and Ph.D. degree from UC San Diego and UC Davis, respectively. After postdoctoral training at the Department of Immunology of the Scripps Research Institute under Jonathan Sprent, he became an assistant professor at the same department. He was then promoted to full professor with tenure. At 2012, Charlie became the director of Academy of Immunology and Microbiology (AIM) of the IBS at Postech. He received many awards and honors, including Ho-Am Prize in Medicine and Scholar of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Charlie’s scientific achievement needs no explanation. His work had focused on thymic selection, lymphocyte homeostasis. His recent work has focused on the role of microbial and food antigens in shaping mucosal immune system.

Charlie played a key role in establishing AKIA in 2013. With his help and support AKIA was able to hold the first inaugural symposium at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology where he was an adjunct professor. His enthusiasm to have a Korean Immunology society was truly fundamental for AKIA to be a successful organization to date. We are grateful for his dedication and passion for Korean Immunology. He will be dearly missed.